By Israel Amune

Members of the old PDP led by Chief Dan Orbih, the Vice Chairman South South PDP, has vowed to resist Governor Godwin Obaseki on his clandestine anti-democratic plot to run the LGA elections throughout the 18 councils and 192 wards where the plan is to shut out members of the old PDP from participating in the elections. The stiff resistance by the members of the old PDP is coming under the heals of the scheme by Obaseki to use the instrumentality of the state electoral body, EDSIEC, in collaboration with the chairman of PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, to make sure no member of the old PDP would be allowed to participate in the election.

It should be recalled that the governor had hurriedly gone to the state house assembly to amend the electoral law which allows for 150 days notification to 15 days. And this was passed by House of Assembly in less than 15 minutes. Pertinent to note that the House of Assembly is having only 10 members and they cannot amend the Local Govt. law with this piteous numbers.

It should also be recalled that it’s been over two years since the tenures of the formerly elected LGA chairmen and councilors came to an end. All efforts to make the governor to conduct LGA elections were rebuffed until recently he became aware that he would need them as automatic delegates in the primaries for Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections.

The old PDP members who are bent on upholding the constitution of the party said it is illegal for messages concerning the party in relation to other bodies to be issued by anybody except the Secretary to the Party. The purported letter issued by Mr. Tony Anenih was unsigned which makes it illegal. It is confirmed that, Mr Tony Anenih is not in the country. From our sources, the letter was written in the government house and given to some media urchins to peddle. The constitution of the party is clear on who communicates party issues with other bodies, which is the Secretary of the Party, Mr. Hilary Otsu.

It is yet unclear what members of the old PDP will do. Members of the Party are anxiously waiting to see what steps will be taken by their Leader to stop the unacceptable illegalities of the Governor.